Youth Steelband Registration
Adult Steelband Registration

Youth Steelband Workshops

8 Week

About the classes

From day one, students learn the fundamentals; technique, rhythm, and how to play as part of an ensemble.

This a hands-on course is designed to welcome both experienced musicians and absolute beginners into the world of playing the steelpan/steeldrums. Together, we will learn a few songs, proper mallet technique and the rich history of the only major acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century.

By the end of this course, our ensemble should learn 2-4 songs to perform for a recording, a small gathering of audience of family and friends.

What You Will Learn:

  • Basic Steelpan Techniques: The fundamentals of striking the pan, rolling notes for a sustained sound, and playing rhythmic strumming patterns.

  • Playing by Ear & Rote Learning: Reading traditional music notation is not required. Songs will be learned by ear and rote learning, i.e step-by-step demonstrations, call-and-response teaching and repetition that gets you playing instantly

  • Ensemble Cohesion: Learn to stay in sync with the group and keep a steady rhythm together

  • History & Culture: Learn some of the social history and roots of Trinidad and Tobago, and how the steelpan was creatively invented out of resistance to restrictive colonial laws.

No experience needed: Open to musicians and 'non-musicians' alike.
No materials required: All instruments and mallets are fully provided. You can just show up, step up to a pan, and start playing!

Youth Steelband Sessions

Youth Steelband (Elementary/Middle School, ages 8–12)

Mondays, 5:00–6:30 PM - Kiskadee Group

Sept 14 - Nov 2
Dates: Sept 14, 21, 28 | Oct 5, 12*, 19, 26 | Nov 2 (Nov 9)

*Oct 12 to be confirmed

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Youth Steelband (High School, ages 13–18)

Thursdays, 5:00–6:30 PM - Agouti Group

Sept 17 - Nov 5
Dates: Sept 17, 24 | Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | Nov 5

Location
Classes are held at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 14411 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866. Please use the parking lot and entrance located in the back of the building.

Tuition

$400 for an 8-week session.

Early Bird rate: $325 — register by September 10 with code STEELEARLY. Family discounts available when multiple students sign up at the same time.

Register for Youth Steelband

Adult Steelband Workshops

6 Week

About the classes

From day one, students learn the fundamentals; technique, rhythm, and how to play as part of an ensemble.

This a hands-on course is designed to welcome both experienced musicians and absolute beginners into the world of playing the steelpan/steeldrums. Together, we will learn a few songs, proper mallet technique and the rich history of the only major acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century.

By the end of this course, our ensemble should learn 2-3 songs to perform for a recording, a small gathering of audience of family and friends.

What You Will Learn:

  • Basic Steelpan Techniques: The fundamentals of striking the pan, rolling notes for a sustained sound, and playing rhythmic strumming patterns.

  • Playing by Ear & Rote Learning: Reading traditional music notation is not required. Songs will be learned by ear and rote learning, i.e step-by-step demonstrations, call-and-response teaching and repetition that gets you playing instantly

  • Ensemble Cohesion: Learn to stay in sync with the group and keep a steady rhythm together

  • History & Culture: Learn some of the social history and roots of Trinidad and Tobago, and how the steelpan was creatively invented out of resistance to restrictive colonial laws.

No experience needed: Open to musicians and 'non-musicians' alike.
No materials required: All instruments and mallets are fully provided. You can just show up, step up to a pan, and start playing!

Adult Steelband Sessions

Adult Steelband - Mondays

Mondays, 7:00-8:30 PM

Sept 21- Nov 2*
Dates: Sept 21, 28 | Oct 5, 12*, 19, 26 | (Nov 2)

*Oct 12 to be confirmed

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Adult Steelband - Thursdays

Thursdays, 7:00–8:30 PM

Sept 24 - Oct 29
Dates: Sept 24 | Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Location
Classes are held at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 14411 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866. Please use the parking lot and entrance located in the back of the building.

Tuition

$300 for an 8-week session.

Early Bird rate: $270 — register by September 15 with code STEELEARLY. Discounts available when multiple students sign up at the same time.

Register for Adult Steelband

Steelband workshops & lessons FAQ

  • No. The class is designed to be accessible from day one. We teach primarily by rote and ear, so notation is optional, not required. Beginners and experienced readers learn side by side.

  • For youth: Mondays (Kiskadee Group) are for elementary/middle schoolers, ages 8–12; Thursdays (Agouti Group) are for high schoolers, ages 13–18. For general community members, Monday keeps a more gradual, beginner-friendly pace, while Thursday tends to move a bit faster for those with some reading background.

  • Yes — accommodations can be made for siblings who'd prefer to attend together. Just reach out to the Director to arrange it.

  • No. Instruments, mallets, and sheet music (when used) are all provided as part of enrollment. If you would like to purchase your own mallets, we recommend - https://www.themalletman.com/ or https://www.cpaninstruments.com/

  • Because this is a group lesson, the Director can't guarantee a make-up, but will make a reasonable effort to arrange one — typically on a Saturday or by extending a regular class slightly. Planned absences require 48 hours' notice; emergencies should be communicated as soon as safely possible. Make-up lessons don't count as credit toward the next month's tuition, and absences without communication are considered a forfeited lesson.

  • No, all payments are non-refundable. Tuition is based on the total number of scheduled meetings for the course and isn't adjusted for individual absences.

  • Yes — multi-student discounts are available for siblings or family members enrolling together.